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I can feel your support, Fubara tells Rivers

Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara has called on residents to keep standing firm on the side of the truth following the ongoing crisis in the State, saying he can feel the support of Rivers people.

Fubara, who made the call during the inauguration of the rehabilitated Fire Service Station at Rumuodomaya, Obio-Akpo Local Government Area, on Friday, insisted that those supporting his administration were doing the right thing.

He said: ” I want to appreciate the people of Obio/Akpor for their support, I can feel it here. I want to appreciate the support of the good people of Rivers State believing in us knowing that your trust is the right thing and that you are standing on the side of truth.

“We want to assure you that we will continue to do what is right in our government. I thank God for the opportunity given to us to continue to provide services for our people.”

Fubara said that the fire station was remodeled, rehabilitated and equipped to show that the interest of the people remained most important in his administration.

He said the essence of the project was to safeguard the lives of the people and the property of every citizen of Rivers.

Inaugurating the project, the Special Guest of Honour, Chief Hanny Woko, called for an to the ongoing crisis in Rivers saying it was giving the state a bad name.

Woko asked the people of Rivers to emulate Lagos State where he said politicians quarreled but immediately found a solution to their problems.

He said: “I want to use this opportunity to call on every reasonable Rivers son and daughter that there should be an end to every conflict. Rivers State has been always in the news for the negative purpose and we condemn that. We should borrow a leave from our sister States. The governors are governing their people without any friction anywhere.

“Yes in human relations there may be room for frictions but what is important is to put the State first. No personal interest should override the collective interest of the state. I urge everyone using this opportunity to borrow a leave from Lagos State.

Read Also: Fubara convinced us to dump Atiku’s camp to support Tinubu, says Sekibo

“They quarreled but they came to a round table to sort out their problem and the state moves on. Rivers State should emulate Lagos. Right now our state is in a turmoil but we thank God that God will continue to give His Excellency the wisdom to manage this crisis and I am absolutely sure that he will come out unscathed and he will serve out his two tenures as statutorily provided in our constitution.”

Woko commended the Governor for all his laudable projects and for touching the lives of Rivers people despite the ongoing distractions.

He said: ” It is important to know that at the heat of this time you are still going about commissioning projects. There are projects already lined up for two weeks. You have come to serve Rivers State and be assured that Rivers people will protect this democracy and you sir.

“There is no pretence about it, the love is organic and we will make sure that we will continue to support you. As an Ikwerre man this state gave us the privilege and honour to serve for 16 years and some months without any disruptions. Equity and fair play demand that we allow our Ijaw ethnic group to serve out their tenure.”

March 8, 2025
Rivers crisis: Tension as Fubara’s commissioners, election agency sue lawmakers

• Assembly extends deadline for RISIEC’s chairman’s appearance

• Insists it will act on ultimatum issued to governor

• Police vow to crush militants threatening oil production

The authority of the Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly to reverse Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s appointment of 19 commissioners is now a subject of litigation at the State High Court.

The commissioners, whose appointments were cleared by four supporters of the governor in the assembly, are asking the court to restrain the lawmakers from declaring their appointments illegal.

The Supreme Court last week confirmed Amaewhule as the rightful Speaker of the assembly after dismissing the cross-appeal filed by Governor Fubara challenging the validity of the legislature led by Amaewhule.

Also now in court challenging the right of the assembly to summon them for questioning are the chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission (RISIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd) and his commissioners.

Enebeli had been given a 48-hour ultimatum by the House of Assembly to appear before the lawmakers and explain the circumstances surrounding the conduct of the October 2024 Local Government Election that was nullified by the Supreme Court.

The assembly yesterday extended the ultimatum by 72 hours when the RISIEC commissioner did not show up.

The Governor Fubara commissioners, in their suit filed at the State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, are seeking an order of interlocutory injunction to restrain Amaewhule and 26 others from taking further steps to enforce or act upon the entire resolutions passed on March 5 and from making further pronouncements in respect of their appointment as commissioners.

Read Also: RONKE OSHODI-OKE: Nollywood will frustrate you

They are also praying for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the lawmakers from interfering in any way whatsoever in the performance of their duties and responsibilities as commissioners in the executive council.

Besides, they want the court to issue an order directing the lawmakers to maintain the status quo ante bellium pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

Plaintiffs in the case are: Commissioners for Works, Olisaeloka Tasie-Amadi; Education, Dr. Orluideye Chukwuma; Attorney-General, Dagogo Iboroma, SAN; Local Government, Charles Beke; Transport, Collins Onunwo; Power, Solomon Eke; Budget and Economic Planning, Prof. Peter Medee; Special Duty, Basoene Benibo; Environment, Tambari Sydney Gbara; Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Illamu Arugu and Special Projects, Dr. Rowland Whyte.

The rest are commissioners for Special Duties, Samuel Anya; Water Resources, Samuel Eyiba; Employment Generation, Austin Nnadozie; Culture and Tourism, Israel Ngbuelu; Urban Development, Evans Bipi; Commerce and Industry, Otamiri Ngubo; Housing, Benibo Alabrara and Finance, Emmanuel Frank-Fubara.

Justice Frank Onyiri granted them leave to serve the defendants through substituted means and adjourned to April 17th for hearing of the motion on notice.

In the other suit, Justice Enebeli (rtd), Prof. Simeon Weli, Aaron Brown, Dr. Lazbery Nnah, Pastor Tamunotonye Tobins, Chinwe Ihua-Maduenyi, Nukabari Kponi-Vure, Ibierembo Thompson and RISIEC are praying for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining Amaewhule and others from taking further steps to enforce their invitation to appear before the assembly and stopping the legislative arm from making further pronouncements or resolutions requiring or commanding their appearance at the Rivers State House of Assembly at the risk of warrant of arrest upon failure to do so on March 3, 2025 or any other date pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

Also being sought by the plaintiffs is an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the lawmakers from interfering in any manner whatsoever with the performance of their duties and responsibilities as chairman and commissioners in RISIEC pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

The court, according to them, should issue an order directing the respondents to maintain the status quo ante bellium pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

Justice Onyiri, upon receipt of the motion on notice granted the claimants leave to serve the defendants through substituted means.

The court said: “It is ordered that leave be and is hereby granted to the claimants/applicants to serve by substituted means of the originating and other processes in this suit on the 1st to 27th defendants by pasting same at the gate of Rivers State House of Assembly Quarters, opposite former NDDC Headquarters, off Aba Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The court adjourned the case to April 17th for hearing of the motion on notice.

The lawmakers during their plenary on Wednesday had asked Enebeli to appear in the company of RISIEC commissioners and with relevant documents.

Enebeli in particular, they insisted, must explain the sources of funding for the last election and where he intended to raise money to conduct the fresh election he scheduled for August 9, 2025.

However, the Assembly during its plenary yesterday resolved to extend the ultimatum by 72 hours.

It insisted that the invited persons must appear before it to explain their actions and inactions in the conduct of the 5th October, 2024 Local Government Elections in the State, expenditures and where they expected to generate money for the proposed election.

The House agreed on the resolution after House Leader, Major Jack, informed the House that the letters inviting the Chairman and Commissioners of the Commission and the ones calling the attention of Governor Fubara to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill, and his infractions on the Constitution were duly delivered and publicised.

He, however, regretted that neither the governor nor the chairman not his commissioners honoured the invitation.

In their various debates, members spoke glowingly of the integrity of Justice Enebeli, being a retired Judge of the Rivers State High Court, and urged the House to give him another opportunity to appear before the House.

In his comments, Speaker Amaewhule said the House had taken legislative notice of the refusal of Fubara to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill and to submit the list of his commissioner-nominees to the House.

The speaker said the House would address it squarely at the appropriate time.

The lawmakers voted in the affirmative, directing the Clerk of the House to again invite the chairman and commissioners of the Commission to appear before the lawmakers on Monday, 10th March, 2025.

The legislators said that the House would have no option but to invoke Section 129 (1) (d) of the Constitution should the Chairman and his Commissioners fail to appear before the House on Monday.

Following the leave of the Speaker, Jack presented to the House Certified True Copy of last week’s Judgment of the Supreme Court on the State political crisis.

The Nation gathered that information about the restraining orders granted against the Assembly reached it after the close of business yesterday.

Sources said the House would make its next line of action on the issues known by Monday.

Police: We’ll crush militants threatening oil production

The police, responding to threats by some militants in Rivers State to attack oil installations on account of the political crisis in the state and the Supreme Court’s order stopping revenue allocation to local governments should the state government fail to comply with its recent judgement, vowed to deal with trouble makers.

Police Commissioner Olugbenga Adepoju warned the militants that nobody has a monopoly of violence.

“If fire is coming from heaven, it will not consume only one person, definitely everybody will be consumed,” he said.

Continuing, Adepoju said: “So, nobody can threaten anybody. We are handling the situation the way we should, and we are ready for anything that is going to come.

“All eyes are on Rivers State now. I don’t think there is any problem here really, but we will not allow anybody to heat the polity.

“You cannot fight the government, and the governor himself has been handling the situation very maturely and well. So nothing will happen. The man on the ground (governor) is peaceful and God is on the throne and we are equal to the task.”

Arrest persons threatening to unleash violence on Rivers, stakeholders tell security agencies

As tension grows in the state on the political situation, stakeholders under the auspices of the Rivers Restoration Movement (RRM) yesterday asked security agencies to immediately arrest persons threatening to sabotage the economy or unleash violence on the people.

The group cited recent statements by the President of Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof Benjamin Okaba, Chief Sara Igbe, Alhaji Asari Dokubo and some leaders of IYC.

The RRM in a statement signed by its Director-General, Johnson Georgewill, and Secretary, Mrs Sarima Akpata, said those utterances were not only reckless, thoughtless and provocative but also posed a grave threat to national security and peaceful coexistence.

The group wondered whether the Ijaw leaders threatening destabilization were more Ijaw than the nine members of the Rivers State House of Assembly of Ijaw extraction.

RRM said the nine Ijaw lawmakers had remained grateful and stood firm for truth despite their maltreatment, humiliation with their allowances allegedly denied them by Governor Fubara.

The group said: “We run a constitutional democracy guided by laws and the highest court of the land has spoken, and Gov Fubara is bound to obey the ruling.

“Furthermore, the public is hereby advised to disregard their empty, watery and old fashioned threat, because the laws of Nigeria are always supreme.”

March 8, 2025
Fubara convinced us to dump Atiku’s camp to support Tinubu, says Sekibo

…as Rivers unveils new fire service station at Borokiri

Former Minister of Transport, Chief Abiye Sekibo, has revealed that he and other political leaders abandoned former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu due to Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Sekibo, a known Atiku loyalist, made the surprising revelation in Port Harcourt on Thursday, stating that Fubara convinced them to shift their allegiance to Tinubu.

Speaking as the Special Guest of Honour at the inauguration of the rehabilitated Borokiri Fire Service Station, Sekibo urged President Tinubu to disregard claims that the Rivers governor is surrounded by Atiku’s loyalists.

In his message to Tinubu, he said: “Mr President, our own President Bola Ahmed Tinubu lend me your ears. We, the Rivers people, have always supported the government at the centre. We have always worked with the government at the centre.

“This governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has convinced Rivers people that they must stand with their President, and we do stand with you. There might be persons telling you stories, especially when they see people like me, who were core Atiku men, they will say, ‘don’t you see it is Atiku people that are with the governor’.

“There are also Atiku people that are with them there in Abuja. But the governor has convinced us that the place to be is to be with our President and Mr. President we stand with you. We stand with you because that is the right thing to do.

“The elections delivered you as our President, and so we stand with you. The elections delivered this governor, our son, for the first time in 24 years, the Ijaw nation in more than eight local government areas of Rivers State have an opportunity of having one of their own as the governor of this state. We stand with him, we have no choice”.

Abiye said Fubara, through his work in Rivers, had shown that he prioritised the interest of the people and the unity of the country.

Read Also: Crisis between Fubara, lawmakers deepens

He said that at the time when the state’s funds were seized, he made sure that there was no problem in Rivers; he kept essential services active and worked tirelessly to avoid creating any problem for the federal government.

He called on Tinubu to support the governor, describing Fubara as an ally of the President.

“Standing by and working with Governor Siminalayi Fubara is the right thing to do, and I urge you, Mr. President, to stand with Siminalayi Fubara. My dear people, as we urge our President and the Federal Government to stand with our son, we all have a duty to rally round him and stand with him, no matter what happens”, he said.

Abiye said he was aware that the Supreme Court’s judgement demoralized the people, but he assured them that as law-abiding citizens, the governor had assured them that he would implement the ruling to sustain the peace in Rivers.

He said he was honoured that the governor chose him to inaugurate the rehabilitated Borokiri Fire Station.

Abiye described the project as a reflection of purposeful leadership and an indication that the governor prioritised the wellbeing and interest of Rivers people.

He said: “In a time when leadership is tested, when bold decisions are required for the progress of our people, this governor has prioritised the interest of our people, and we all have a duty to stand with him. All Rivers people, no matter which part you are coming from, this governor carries our hopes and our future.

“I was Secretary to the State Government in this State, this Fire Service Station existed, I must confess that what I am seeing today is a state-of-the-art modern Fire Service Station. Thank you for your care and love. This is also an opportunity to expand the possibilities of work for our people.

“Once there are instruments to work with, you need people to use and drive these vehicles to fight fire, and I am sure that our governor will use as a point reference to ensure that we have employment within the system that gives our youths something to do”.

While vowing that no matter the situation, they would continue to support the governor, he recalled that when the second-term ambition of former Governor Nyesom Wike was threatened, they rallied around him and confronted the military.

“When the second term of your immediate predecessor was threatened, we the Rivers people especially in Okrika and Ogu/Bolo Local Government Areas came out to dare the military. Our women went naked to dare the military and made sure that the results were not changed. My governor go and sleep because for you, we will do more”, he said.

In his remarks, Governor Fubara said the purpose of government was to provide services to the people and protect lives and property.

“So, when we are doing those things that we are elected to do and we start showcasing it, sometimes it doesn’t make any sense. But you have to show the world what you are doing so that they will know that you are working. Some will commission boreholes and advertise them. But for us, we have chosen to showcase to the world most vital and needed item of service”, he said.

Describing Fire Service Station as a very important component in every system, Fubara recalled that some days ago, his government unveiled the new headquarters of the station and chose to rehabilitate the station in Borokiri because the area is densely populated.

He said: “The essence of rehabilitating this fire service station here is to cater for the huge population that are living here. We have had cases of fire from time to time, and we have never adequately responded to them.

“I strongly believe that after this commissioning, whatever incidence that will occur, provided it is within the power of this Fire Service Station, it will be adequately combated.

“But the most important thing is that we are happy that we are doing this for our people; we are also happy with what we are seeing here, the excitement and joy on the faces of our people. It is the reason why we will continue to do more for our people.”

March 6, 2025
Crisis between Fubara, lawmakers deepens

The political crisis in Rivers State deepened yesterday.

The House of Assembly directed Governor Siminalayi Fubara to present fresh nominees for confirmation as commissioners and board members within 48 hours.

It also summoned the chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retd).

He is to explain why he conducted the last council election that was voided by the Supreme Court.

This was after RSIEC fixed August 9 for a fresh local government election.

Justice Enebeli told stakeholders that the new date was in line with last Friday’s Supreme Court judgment, which nullified the October 5 poll.

Also yesterday, the state government responded to the earlier 48-hour ultimatum issued to Fubara by the House to re-present the 2025 Appropriation Bill.

The government said it was yet to receive the letter containing the summons.

Read Also: Akpabio, Akpoti-Uduaghan and politics of allegations

The House of Assembly during plenary on Monday gave Fubara 48 hours to re-represent the budget.

But the state government, in a March 5 letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Tammy Danagogo, said: “As at the close of work on Tuesday, 4th March 2025, we are yet to receive the said letter.

“Neither the office of the governor nor the deputy governor’s office, nor the office of the Accountant-General of the state has received the said letter.”

Reiterating the governor’s willingness to comply with the Supreme Court orders, the letter adds: “We have since been in contact with our lawyers, who are still awaiting the certified true copy of the judgment of the Supreme Court and hereby reassure you and all the good people of Rivers State that as soon as his Excellency receives the judgment, he will strive to implement same in the best interest of our people.”

The House wrote Fubara again yesterday, issuing him another 48-hour ultimatum to rectify what it called illegal appointments without the constitutionally required screening and confirmation.

In the March 5 letter, Amaewhule told the governor that he failed to forward the nominee for Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice for screening and confirmation but chose to parade one Mr. Dagogo Iboroma as a member of the state executive council.

The lawmakers said the governor violated sections 192 (2 and 6) and 195 (1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

According to them, 19 persons have parading themselves and misleading Rivers people by claiming to be commissioners.

The legislators said Fubara committed another infraction of the law by inaugurating members of the Bureau on Public Procurement and Local Government Service Commission without screening and confirmation by the Assembly.

The lawmakers said: “These appointments by you that are highlighted and other appointments made but not mentioned here for want of space that are not in consonance with extant laws are not only infractions but are seriously threatening our nascent democracy, so should and shall be remedied.

“The House requests you to submit a list of nominees for appointment as commissioners into the Rivers State Executive Council as well as a list of nominees for appointment to fill vacancies in all the offices mentioned above or those not listed but required screening and confirmation by the Rivers State House of Assembly within 48 hours.

“We, therefore, urge you to act fast and do the needful by complying with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended and other extant laws in the best interest of the good people of Rivers State.”

The House asked Justice Enebeli to appear tomorrow.

The lawmakers said he conducted the voided council poll in defiance of a subsisting order of the High Court.

The House threatened to issue a warrant of arrest for him if he failed to honour the invitation.

The letter said: “You are requested to honour this summons with all your commissioners and relevant documents empowering you to spend any fund of the commission without an Appropriation Law from January 1st 2024 to date.

“Please, be informed that failure to honour this summon would leave the House with no options but to issue a warrant of arrest or invoke its powers as enshrined in Section 128 of the Constitution.”

Ijaw Youths issue warning

Also yesterday, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide expressed concern over threats to the administration of Fubara, who it called a proud son of the Ijaw nation.

In a statement by national spokesman, Binebai Yerin Princewill, IYC warned that the Ijaw would not tolerate any attempts to impeach Fubara.

It said the governor must be allowed to complete his tenure without interruption.

The statement reads: “In solidarity with the Ijaw National Congress (INC), we reaffirm that our historical struggle for liberation contributed to the foundation of Rivers State in 1967…

“The Ijaw people have played a crucial role as the political and economic backbone of Rivers State.

“As we stand behind Governor Fubara, we make it clear—there will be no compromise regarding his position.

“The Ijaw Youth Council will actively oppose any moves that threaten the governance of an Ijaw leader.

“We call upon all stakeholders, including the citizenry, political leaders, and civil society, to respect the democratic process and allow for the uninterrupted governance of Rivers State.

“Unity and collaboration among the ethnic groups in Rivers State remain vital for our collective progress.”

Elders weigh in

A former Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mike Okiro, called on warring parties to let peace reign.

Okiro, at a briefing in Abuja, recommended dialogue to resolve the crisis.

He said that he had engaged elders and traditional leaders to find a lasting solution to the crisis.

“We cannot sit down and watch the gladiators fight and make Rivers a no-go area. The state has contributed a lot to the economy of the country.

“Rivers is a symbol of our economic strength. We must embrace peace for national development,” he said.

He urged traditional rulers, elders, religious leaders and other critical stakeholders in the state to see reason and come together to engage the warring factions.

“The stakeholders should come together and meet the factions one-on-one to find a lasting solution to the crisis,” he said.

Also, a former member of the House of Representatives from Bayelsa State, Israel Sunny-Goli, urged Fubara to exercise restraint in his utterances.

“I call on Governor Fubara to not only fully comply with the Supreme Court pronouncement recognising the Amaewhule-led Assembly but to also refrain from any actions or statements that could potentially ignite a crisis in the state,” Sunny-Goli said.

March 6, 2025
Fubara donates helicopter to Air Force for Rivers, Niger Delta operations

Rivers State Governor, Siminialayi Fubara, has donated a helicopter owned by the state government to the Nigerian Air Force to enhance security in the state and the Niger Delta.

The governor, who handed over the AW 139 helicopter to the Chief of Air Staff at the Air Force Base Port Harcourt on Wednesday specifically called on the security agency to use it to enhance security within the state and the Niger Delta.

The governor recalled that state donated security boats in the past but that they were not deployed to secure lives and property of Rivers people.

He told them that they could use the helicopter to do other things but that 70 per cent of its deployment should be to enhance security and protect critical assets within the state.

He said: “We have been faced with the situation where we donate security boats and at the end it is not used to secure the lives of our people. About two or three weeks ago we were embarrassed that the Inspector-General of Police has to donate some security boats for the security of our waterway, especially the Bonny waterway.

“As I know, not just my administration, even the previous administration made significant donations of gunboats for the purpose of securing of waterways. So, please ensure that while you also use it to do other things let it be 70% used in Rivers State”.

The governor described the gesture as a demonstration of his government’s support and contributions to secure Rivers and the Niger Delta.

He said as the Rivers governor, he is a member of the committee saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that critical assets of the federal government domicile in the Niger Delta are protected and secured for the purposes of enhancing good production and effective running of the government.

He said: “As part of our responsibilities, we are required to provide basic support in form of logistics for effective operations, not just for the Nigerian Air Force, but it includes the Army, Navy, Police and the DSS”.

On why his government took a decision to donate the helicopter to the Air Force, he said: “Knowing that we are saddled with this responsibility we were confronted with this request that our AW 139 helicopter had been left here for so many years.

“The contractor that government gave the helicopter to use was not remiting anything to the state, so there was a problem between the Aero Contractor and the previous administration where this helicopter was forcefully retrieved from them.

“It has been here for awhile and we are not using it. When we received the request from the Chief of Air Staff that they are interested, if we will be willing to donate it for security operations.

‘We didn’t hesitate, we brought it before the Executive Council meeting, it was deliberated upon and we agreed that the success of the operation of the Air Force in securing critical assets is paramount to us.

“If the production level increases it means more revenue to Rivers State. What will it mean, and what will it cost us if we donate the helicopter for this purpose to ensure and show that we are all supporting the cause of Mr. President to ensure that there is increase in production level”.

Fubara explained that the donation was totally free; done without conditions and devoid of politics, adding that it was simply a demonstration of his government’s commitment.

“We never requested for anything. Our only request is that this donation should be adequately and effectively deployed to secure lives, assets and majorly operations in Rivers State and Niger Delta at large. We are openly doing it to let the world know that we are not exchanging it for anything. It is purely a support for the success of this country”, he said.

He said the state government and the Air Force remained partners in progress noting that beyond the donation the government was involved in other areas of support including the ongoing rehabilitation of the runway at the airbase.

He said: “We are also happy that the records and the history will have it that our administration paid serious attention to the security of lives and property of our people. I can’t go into details but the most important thing is that this exchange of the hand over is purely official and this property from this hour belongs to the Nigerian Air Force. Our appeal should be and stands on this fact that you use it majorly in Rivers State and Niger Delta.

“We on our part we will continue to do everything within our power to complement what the Federal Government is doing and what the President is doing to ensure that lives and property of our people are safe, critical assets secured, and production level is increased. We are not going back on it, we will continue to do more to support it.”

Read Also: Ex-Bayelsa Rep to Fubara: refrain from utterances capable of throwing Rivers into turmoil

On his remarks, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar, thanked the governor for his support confirming that the state government recently approved the contract for the rehabilitation of the runaway and aprons at the base.

“We remain deeply grateful to the Rivers State Government for its consistent support and dedication to the nearly six decades that we have been here. Strong partnership with the government and civil institutions such as this generous hand over of the139 helicopter by the Rivers State Government exemplifies the collaborative approach needed to strengthen national security.

“By fostering synergy between civil authorities and the military will ensure a more responsive, agile and capable force to address some temporary security challenges. The security landscape in Nigeria today demands a dynamic and proactive measure to counter the evolving threats posed by non-state actors”, he said.

He said the AW 139 helicopter would significantly enhance Air Force operational capacity particularly the tactical air lift, search and rescues among others.

March 5, 2025
Ex-Bayelsa Rep to Fubara: refrain from utterances capable of throwing Rivers into turmoil

A former member of the Federal House of Representatives from Bayelsa State, Hon. Israel Sunny-Goli has called on the Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, to exercise restraint in his utterances and actions that can ignite unnecessary tension and unrest in the state.

According to Sunny-Goli, rather than fan the ember of unrest, Fubara should fully comply with the Supreme Court pronouncement, recognising the Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule-led Assembly and make peace and stability of the state a topmost priority by adhering to the court’s directives and ensuring that the transition of council leadership is conducted smoothly and without incident.

The ex-rep, who is also a traditional Ruler, the Kemmer V Amadabo of Kemmer-Ama in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, in his statement issued on Wednesday via electronic mail, called for compliance with Supreme Court order and maintenance of peace in Rivers State.

Sunny-Goli said: “The recent ruling of the Supreme Court regarding the political imbroglio in Rivers State has brought an end to the protracted leadership tussle in the Rivers State House of Assembly and provided the much-needed clarity on the status of the local government chairmanship.

“As a society practising constitutional democracy, we are governed by the rule of law. This makes every judgment and pronouncement from our revered judiciary binding on every one of us, no matter our status or how unpalatable we find them, especially those from the apex court.

“It is on this premise that I call on Governor Siminalayi Fubara to not only fully comply with the Supreme Court pronouncement, recognizing the Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule-led assembly, but also to refrain from any actions or statements that could potentially ignite a crisis in the state.

“The governor’s recent remarks, wherein he said, ‘Inasmuch as I don’t subscribe to violence, when the time comes to take a decision, I will lead the cause for that decision,’ as well as his address to the youths, assuring them they will get the instruction when the time comes, are deeply concerning, as they can lead to unnecessary tension and unrest in the state.

“I urge the governor to make the peace and stability of Rivers State a topmost priority by adhering to the court’s directives and ensuring that the transition of council leadership is conducted smoothly and without incident.”

Read Also: Fubara: Between a rock and a hard place

He also called on all stakeholders in Rivers State, including political leaders, community leaders, and citizens, to remain calm and support the peaceful implementation of the Supreme Court’s decision.

He called on parents in Rivers and Niger Delta states not to allow their children to be hired as political thugs and deployed into any case of violence in Rivers State.

He further said, “I implore all parents in Rivers State to prevail on their children not to allow themselves to be recruited and used as cannon fodder in a needless and avoidable crisis.

“Those seeking to set the state on fire should be told to recruit members of their families and loved ones if they are convinced of its propriety.”

March 5, 2025
BREAKING: We won’t honour Assembly’s ultimatum, says Rivers govt

The Rivers State Government has reacted to the 48-hour ultimatum issued to Governor Siminalayi Fubara to re-present the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule.

In its response, the government stated that it would not comply with the ultimatum as it had not yet received an official letter conveying the summon.

The House of Assembly had on Monday during its plenary given Fubara 48 hours to bring the appropriation bill following the Supreme Court judgement.

The House immediately communicated its decision to the governor in a letter dated March 3rd and signed by Amaewhule.

Read Also: 2025 Budget: Fubara keeps mum over 48-ultimatum issued by Rivers Assembly

The ultimatum expired today, Wednesday.

But the state government in a letter addressed to the Right Honourable Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly dated March 5th said it had not received the said resolutions of the Assembly.

The government in the letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Tammy Danagogo, said its response was based on a letter it came across on the social media.

The government said: “As at the close of work on Tuesday, 4th March, 2025, we are yet to receive the said letter. Neither the office of the governor nor the deputy governor’s office, nor the office of the Accountant-General of the state has received the the said letter”.

The government told the House that the governor had in his state broadcast on March 2nd said notwithstanding his personal opinion on the Supreme Court judgement he would as a law-abiding citizen obey and implement the decisions in accordance with the rule of law and in the best interest of the people of Rivers State.

The letter added: “We have since been in contact with our lawyers, who are still awaiting the certified true copy of the judgement of the Supreme Court and hereby reassure you and all the good people of Rivers State that as soon as his Excellency receives the judgement, he will strive to implement same in the best interest of our people”.

March 5, 2025
2025 Budget: Fubara keeps mum over 48-ultimatum issued by Rivers Assembly

…RISIEC to unveil timetable for LG election

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has yet to respond to the 48-hour ultimatum issued by the Rivers State House of Assembly to re-present the 2025 Appropriation Bill. The lawmakers, in their sitting on Monday presided over by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, gave the governor 48 hours to re-present the budget in line with the recent Supreme Court judgment.

There has been no indication that Fubara has responded to the timeframe, which expires on Wednesday, as no official notification has been made public by the government regarding the possibility of the governor honoring the invitation.

The anxiety in Rivers State is compounded by the lawmakers’ decision to proceed on a 12-week recess beginning on Friday, though they assured that a standing committee would be authorized to handle some House business.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RISIEC) announced it would release the timetable for a new local government election on Wednesday. RISIEC’s Chairman, Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retd), stated on Tuesday inviting all stakeholders to the commission’s headquarters on Wednesday for a meeting.

Read Also: Reps Committee approves SEDC 2025 budget

Stakeholders to be present include leaders of all registered political parties, traditional rulers, security agencies, religious organizations, the media, professional organizations, civil society groups, Non-Governmental Organizations, and the electorate.

He said: “The highlight of the meeting will be the unveiling of the timetable and guidelines for the 2025 local government elections in the state”.

It was, however, learnt that the move to fix a date for a local government election would further deepen the bad blood between the House of Assembly and the state government.

Part of the key resolutions of the House on Monday contained in a letter the lawmakers sent to the governor and copied the RISIEC chairman was a decision “to amend the Local Government and RISIEC laws to be in tandem with the Electoral Act and pave the way for the commencement of plans for fresh local government elections in the state”.

While the House believed that the preliminary procedures and requirements for a fresh local government election, including a valid appropriation law, were not ready yet, the state government believed that the process for another poll must begin immediately in line with the judgment of the Supreme Court.

March 4, 2025
Obey judgment or get ready for impeachment, Rivers stakeholders tell Fubara

Stakeholders under the auspices of the Rivers Restoration Movement (RRM) have called on the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to either obey the Supreme Court’s judgment or prepare for impeachment.

In a statement signed by its director-general, Johnson Georgewill, and Secretary, Mrs. Sarima Akpata, RRM congratulated FCT Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike; Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule; and 26 other members of the House on their court victory, praising them for standing firm for truth till the end.

“This is indeed a huge victory for truth and justice, reinforcing the fact that the judiciary remains the last hope of the common man. RRM wants to especially thank the Supreme Court Justices, led by Justice Emmanuel Agim, for cementing the power of the Judiciary.”

RRM emphasized that the landmark victory at the Supreme Court and subsequent actions taken by major actors have led the Rivers Restoration Movement, in partnership with True Rivers Ijaws, to take a firm stand.

Read Also: Fubara inaugurates fire service station in Rivers

“The project commissioning set to begin by Monday, March 3, 2025, is illegal, vexatious and a clear sign that Governor Siminialayi Fubara has chosen to continue disobeying valid court rulings because the Judgment was clear that the Rivers State Government should not spend a dime without appropriation.

“So, one begins to wonder where funds will be gotten from for this 10-day government function when we all know the 2024 and 2025 budgets are all illegal.”

RRM called on Amaewhule and his Assembly members to rise and defend democracy in Rivers, saying they were the only ones with the constitutional mandate to act in partnership with the Nigerian police.

“The time for us has come to ensure all illegal appointments, spendings and actions by the Rivers State Government are halted until a proper budget is presented.

“The 10th Assembly should also not hesitate to wield the big stick of impeachment if the governor continues on the part of illegality because we know the statewide budget was completely watery as regards the main issue of budget presentation.

“RRM is calling on all leaders in Rivers state, clergy, politicians, opinion leaders and traditional rulers from all tribes to stand up for the truth and advise the governor to respect our democracy.

“As a group that stood firm for power shift to the Riverine Axis in 2023 and supported the former Governor and leader of Rivers State politics H.E Nyesom Wike to ensure Governor Siminialayi Fubara emerges against all odds, we are bold to say that our continuous opposition to all betrayals and illegal actions by the state Government remains strong because truth and justice will always reign supreme amid ungrateful acts.”

March 4, 2025
Fubara inaugurates fire service station in Rivers

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has decried the neglect of state-owned fire stations by previous administrations, attributing past fire disasters to their abandonment.

Speaking on Tuesday at the inauguration of the newly renovated and upgraded Rivers State Fire Service Headquarters at Isaac Boro Park/Mile 1, Port Harcourt, Fubara noted that the lack of functional fire stations had left the state reliant on fire trucks owned by multinational companies to combat emergencies.

He emphasized that his administration’s investment in modern firefighting infrastructure would enhance the state’s ability to respond effectively to future incidents.

He said: “We are all aware of our situation. Some years back we were at the mercy of the multinationals when we were faced with fire incidences. These incidences recorded a lot of losses in our homes, market places.

“The records are there. We lost the Mile 1 Market because we couldn’t respond adequately. We also lost the Fruit Garden Market because we could not respond. Are we talking about houses and lives that have been lost in this state because of inadequate fire service.

“I ask, what is the purpose of governance? Provision of services, protection of lives and property. What we are doing today is to tell the good people of Rivers State and to showcase to the world that there is governance in the State. Not governance for its sake, but a purpose-driven governance. One that is interested in projects that will change the lives of our people”.

Fubara said the project was part of consolidating on the promise he made to the people to provide service to Rivers.

Read Also: Confrontation breaks out between Fubara, lawmakers

He recalled that some days ago, a petroleum-laden tanker fell along the Woji/Elelenwo road, but that the state-owned fire service responded immediately to avert any loss of life.

The governor insisted that the purpose of governance is to make the people happy adding that though some people were bent in discrediting his government, Rivers people were happy.

“We are not interested whether those people, who were commissioned to undermine us are not happy. That isn’t our business but our business is about Rivers State and her people”, he said.

Fubara said the government did not build the facility for the sake of glamour, noting that everything required in a dire-fighting station was provided by his government.

The governor commended the firefighters, whose spirits were lifted when he assured them that the facility would be renovated and equipped to enable them perform their duties.

He said: “You can imagine a government that has a fire service station and the men are not working but at the end of the month you pay them their salaries they will be unproductive.

“But today they are happy, they have a big responsibility now ahead of them to ensure that lives and property of the good people of Rivers State are adequately protected.”

He said the gesture was one of the numerous things that he signed off on the 29th of May 2023 to protect the lives of the people, to defend the constitution and to ensure that basic amenities were provided unbiased to the good people of Rivers State.

Addressing the managers of the facility, he said: “The managers of this facility, please don’t treat it like any other thing, but work to safeguard it and protect it. Realize that you are also people that the lives of Rivers people have been entrusted into your hands.

“If this Fire Service Station is not functioning we will lose lives and property. So take this as personal assignment, I cannot reward you but only the good Lord that will pay you for your services”.

Fubara added: “This is not just the only Fire Service Station we have in this State. We deliberately remodeled the three of them, this particular one is in the heart of Port Harcourt and GRA axis to protect issues of fire within the Diobu axis, Mile 1 and Mile 2 including Mile 3.

*We have the one that we will commission in a few days at Rumuodomaya, which is to take care of Rumuokoro, down to UNIPORT axis and we also have one in the Town area. Knowing that the Town area is densely populated, we also ensure that the facility is put to normal standard because Town is the heart of Port Harcourt in those days.”

March 4, 2025